Brazil seeks partnership with Europe for critical mineral mining
Brazil is seeking partnerships with European countries for the exploration of critical minerals and rare earths, which are key resources to the energy transition, said Brazilian Ambassador to Germany Rodrigo Baena Soares.
The diplomat gave a press conference to journalists in Hanover, northern Germany, at an event presenting Hannover Messe, the world’s largest industrial technology fair, which will take place late in April.
In a scenario of closer ties between the two sides of the Atlantic – such as in the Free Trade Agreement between Mercosur and the European Union (EU) – Europeans are seen as “crucial partners,” but these ties are also expected to include technology transfer, so that Brazil can play a leading role in the production chain.
“It is very important that we do not have a traditional scheme of only exporting raw minerals,” Baena said late in February.
“We must think about adding value in Brazil, and be part of the supply chain with technology transfer. The production [is] in Brazil, but with the participation of our companies,” he argued.
The diplomat acknowledged that Brazil has enormous reserves of these strategic resources, adding, however, that the country has yet to emerge as a leader in extraction and refining.
“We have significant reserves, especially of rare earths, but also of other minerals, and we can benefit from European technology, especially German technology. I have already discussed this with German authorities,” he stated.
Strategic resources
A topic of interest to international powers, critical minerals are essential resources for energy transition, technology, and defense.
Among them are lithium, cobalt, nickel, graphite, copper, manganese, niobium, and rare earth elements (a specific group of 17 chemical elements).
According to the Geological Survey of Brazil (SGB), linked to the Ministry of Mines and Energy, Brazil stands out as the largest global holder of niobium reserves (94%), the second largest holder of graphite (26%), and has the third largest nickel reserves in the world (12%).
As for rare earths, the country accounts for 23 percent of global reserves.
These elements are used to improve the efficiency of various high-tech and clean energy products, with applications in wind turbines and electric motors, for example, as well as in aerospace equipment such as satellites, rockets, and missiles.
The fair
Hannover Messe, which will take place from April 20 to 24, will have Brazil as its partner country this year. It will be an opportunity for some 140 Brazilian exhibitors to bring industrial technologies and innovations to Europe.
The event will welcome representatives from hundreds of countries to the city of around 550 thousand people.
“We are going to hold a parallel event on critical minerals to showcase Brazil’s potential in this area as well,” said the Brazilian ambassador.
Hannover Messe is organized by Deutsche Messe AG. The company’s CEO, Jochen Köckler, points to the agreement between Mercosur and the European Union as an opportunity to “truly” create a free trade area.
“It’s a fantastic moment. If you look at how the US is acting with tariffs and how other countries are positioning themselves, it’s an extraordinary opportunity, not only to bring Brazil and Germany closer together, but Brazil and Europe,” he declared.
*The reporter traveled at the invitation of Deutsche Messe AG.
